• For Love, Fun, or Some of Both: The Meaning of Sex and Risky Sexual Behaviors Among Emerging Adult Men
  Presented by: Spencer B. Olmstead, Rhett M. Billen, Kathryn A. Conrad, B. Kay Pasley, Frank D. Fincham

• A Qualitative Investigation of the Sexual Socialization of Emerging Adults
  Presented by: Sharon Ballard, Chisato Sugita, Kevin Gross

• Early Onset Sexual Activity in Adolescence: Do Parents Make A Difference?
  Presented by: Danielle L Rohr, M. Angela Nievar

• Identifying the Mechanisms Whereby Parenting and Individual Factors Influence Teenage Pregnancy
  Presented by: Donna Hancock, Leslie Gordon Simons

Abstracts

For Love, Fun, or Some of Both: The Meaning of Sex and Risky Sexual Behaviors Among Emerging Adult Men

Presented by: Spencer B. Olmstead, Rhett M. Billen, Kathryn A. Conrad, B. Kay Pasley, Frank D. Fincham

We used a mixed methods approach to examine 200 emerging adult college men regarding meanings for sex, how sex is connected to commitment, and subsequent self-reported risky sex behaviors (hooking up and friends with benefits relationships). Using qualitative content analysis of written comments, three groups of men emerged from the data regarding meanings for sex and its connection to commitment. Quantitatively, we compared groups (chi-square and ANOVAs) on demographic measures and risky sexual behaviors. Important group differences in meanings and behaviors emerged. Implications for parent education and educators, family life educators, and emerging adult relationship education interventions are discussed.

A Qualitative Investigation of the Sexual Socialization of Emerging Adults

Presented by: Sharon Ballard, Chisato Sugita, Kevin Gross

This qualitative study examined sexual socialization from an ecological approach by examining interactions between sexual development and social contexts.  Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with ten female and ten male emerging adults. Interviews focused on the community level norms (e.g., community's approach to sexual health issues), religion, education, personal decision making, familial influences, peer influences, and media influences. Preliminary data analysis yielded four emerging themes: (a) desensitization and normalization of sexuality; (b) intersecting influences on sexuality; (c) changing nature of attitudes and influences over time; and (d) continued influence of earlier education and experiences on current sexual decision making.

Early Onset Sexual Activity in Adolescence: Do Parents Make A Difference?

Presented by: Danielle L Rohr, M. Angela Nievar

A longitudinal study indicates the importance of early parenting in regard to early onset of sexual behavior.  Self-regulation at age 3 is also a predictor of sexual experience at age 15. Preventing early onset of teen sexual behavior is important in that it can lead to a decrease in teen pregnancy and STI's. This study demonstrates that positive parenting in the early years predicts abstention from sexual behavior in adolescence.  The current economic situation increases the need for preventative measures for parents, which are less costly than interventions for adolescents who may be at risk for pregnancy and STI's.

Identifying the Mechanisms Whereby Parenting and Individual Factors Influence Teenage Pregnancy

Presented by: Donna Hancocki, Leslie Gordon Simons

According to the most recent data available, 750,000 women under the age of 20 became pregnant in a single year.  While the teenage pregnancy rate declined yearly for a decade until 2005, it increased in 2006.  This increase and the issue of teenage pregnancy should be of concern to scientists and practitioners in this field as well as to society as a whole.  This study will use data from a longitudinal research design in an effort to better understand the predictive nature of a number of variables on teenage pregnancy in an effort to inform teenage pregnancy prevention programs.